Dispensing cap for collapsible tubes



Ban W, 1939.

J. FISHER DISPENSING CAP FOR COLLAFSIBLE TUBES Filed Oct. 3, 1938 INVENTOR. JOSEPH F'ISHA'R Patented Jan. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application October 3,

Claims.

My invention broadly relates to caps for use in connection with collapsible types of containers adapted for holding any soft or plastic mixture or composition, such as toothpaste, cold cream,

5 shaving cream, ointments and analogous substances. The invention is particularly directed to a cap which serves not only as a seal for a collapsible tube,'but acts as a dispenser of the contents of the collapsible tube.

It is a matter of common knowledge that it has been and now is customary to retain soft and plastic mixtures, such as toothpaste and analogous substances, in collapsible tubes possessing a threaded neck to which a cap is removably secured in order to seal the contents. When this arrangement is employed, it is evident that, in order to remove the contents from the tube, it is necessary to completely remove the cap from the neck. This results not infrequently in the loss of the cap and oftentimes the closure is not replaced, allowing the contents of the tube to be exposed to the elements. These are but two of the many disadvantages inherent in the present type of collapsible container and cap.

It is the intent and within the contemplation of this invention to eliminate these and other disadvantages. This is accomplished by substituting for the Well-known threaded cap, a cap which, when once threaded upon the neck of the container, remains always in position yet permits the contents thereof to be exuded in a predetermined shape whenever desired. I

The broad object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a cap for collapsible tubes which acts as a seal for the contents of the tube, which permits the contents to be dispensed from the tube in uniform amounts and in a predetermined shape, and which provides means for securely holding the cap in closed position.

Another object is to provide a cap which is conducive to cleanliness as well as economy of the tube contents.

An equally important object of the invention is to provide a cap for use with tubes possessing a threaded neck and which may be substituted for the cap employed with such tubes in order to permit the dispensing of the contents without removing said substituted cap during the full use of the contents.

A complementary object of the invention is to provide a cap which may be used as a dispenser as well as a seal for collapsible tube that can be used for a great many times on tubes having threaded necks of substantially the same diameter'and employing substantially the same thread.

1938, Serial No. 232,993 (01. 221-430) An equally important object of the invention is to provide a cap which, when his threaded to acollapsible tube, remains secured thereto and allows the contents to be readily discharged therefrom without a great deal of manipulation. 5'-

'Another important object of the invention is to provide a cap having means secured thereto which prevent the accidental discharge of the tube-contents when compression is appliedto the tube.

' Still'another object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical and inexpensive seal for a collapsible container adapted for use as a dispensing means for the contents of'said tube.

The Quintessence of the invention is the pro- 1-5 Vision of a cap composed of three main elements; namely, a threaded member, a hood or sliding cap telescopically mounted on the threaded member and means forlocking the sliding cap against movement when desired, the combination of said 20 elementsproviding a seal for the tube as well as acting as a dispenser of its contents.

As the following detailed description unfolds itself, other objects and advantages inherent in my invention will become apparent, especially 25 when examined and read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification and Which illustrates, by way of example only, one way by which my invention may be practiced, and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view showinga fragmentary portion ofa collapsible tube and a dispensing cap embodying the principles of the invention in vertical cross section and disclosing its structural characteristics.

Figure 2 is an elevational view showing a fragmentaryportion of a collapsible tube and a full elevation of a dispensing cap embodying the principles of my invention in closed position, a portion of'which is broken away to showthe spot 40 through which the contents ofthe tube is exuded, when the dispensing cap is in open position.

Figure 3 is another elevational view, taken from a different angle, of a fragmentary portion of a collapsible tube and a full elevation of the dispensing capshown in closed position.

Figure 4 is an elevational view, in reduced size, of a tube and a dispensing cap embodying the principles of my invention.

Like characters of reference designate corre- 5o spending parts in all of the figures of the drawmg.

In the drawing, the invention is shown con nected to an ordinary collapsible tubel which 4 takes definiteshape: However, the tube disclosed '60 neck 2.

in the drawing is intended to represent all types of collapsible containers to which the dispensing cap embodying the invention may be attached. Hence such representation is not to be considered a limitation. While the invention may be employed on different types of collapsible containers and while it is adapted for dispensing various substances, still for purposes of illustration and to avoid prolixity, reference will hereafter only be made to the use of the invention in connection with collapsible tubes containing toothpaste.

Referring to Figure l which is an enlarged cross sectional view of the dispensing cap shown in the drawing, it will be seen that tube I has a threaded A cylindrical member, designated by reference character A has a collar 3 which is threadably secured to neck 2. A cylindrical wall 4 extends upwardly from collar 3 and an annular shoulder is formed at the juncture of the collar and the wall, as shown at 5. An exterior annular flange 6 is made integral with and extends outwardly from the top I of wall 4. A discharge aperture, such as an elongated slot 8, is formed in the wall 4 and extends in vertical position relative thereto. The slot, however, may be placed in a different location from that shown without affecting its functions. The height and width of the slot is sufficient to form a thin ribbon of toothpaste which will cover the width of a conventional type of toothbrush. This slot 8 communicates with the interior 9 formed by cylindrical wall 4.

A cylindrical casing or hood, designated by reference character B, has a top II], a wall II, and an interior I2. This casing is permanently retained in telescopic, slidable engagement with the wall 4. An interior annular flange I3 extends inwardly from the bottom Id of the wall II. This flange is adapted to ride on the outer surface of wall 4. It also serves to limit the upward movement of the casing since it contacts flange 6 when the casing is raised to its highest position, as shown in Figure l. The length of wall I I is substantially equal to the length of wall 4 and when the casing is lowered to its dormant position, its bottom I4 is seated on shoulder 5. Since flange I3 fits snugly around the wall 4 and since the bottom I4 seats on all of shoulder 5, as shown in Figures 2 to 4 inclusive, a relatively tight relationship is established which prevents leakage of the contents of the tube I.

The toothpaste confined within the collapsible tube I can exude through slot 8 only when the casing is raised to the position, as shown in Figure 1, and the slot is uncovered. When it is desired to seal the slot 8 and thus to prevent the exudation of the contents of the tube I, it is necessary and essential that the casing be lowered into the position shown in Figures 2 to 4 inclusive. However, unless means are provided for retaining the casing in this position, when the tube is not in use, any external pressure put upon tube I will force the casing to slide upwardly and expose the slot 8, forcing the contents of the tube to exude therethrough. To overcome this disadvantage, a bail in the form of a yoke, designated by reference character C, is pivoted to the collar 3. Bail C consists of legs I5 and I6 joined by the cross piece I! and terminates in fingers I8 and I9 respectively which fit into recesses 20 and 2! formed in the collar 3. The height of the bail is slightly less than the height of casing B so that, when the casing is lowered intothe position shown in Figures 2 to 4 inclusive, the cross piece ll of the bail is frictionally forced upon the top IU of the casing and into a transversely disposed groove 22 formed in the top. Such construction provides a firm and secure locking means for the casing and insures the holding of the casing against the shoulder 5 so that, regardless of the amount of external pressure which may be applied on the tube I, the contents cannot be exuded. It is only when the bail is removed from groove 22 and completely disengaged from the casing that external pressure applied to the tube will result in the raising of the casing B into the position shown in Figure 1 and the exudation of the contents through the slot 8.

It is well to point out that, since the casing B is telescopically slidable with relation to the member A when the bail is removed, it is possible to raise the casing B either by compressing the tube I and forcing the contents to pass from the tube into the interiors 9 and I2 of members A and B respectively and thus raise the casing B, or by manually raising the casing prior to compressing the tube. Whichever method is applied, the contents cannot be forced from the tube until the casing is raised so that all or a portion of the slot 8 is exposed. It is also well to point out that after the desired quantity of the contents of the tube has been exuded, the casing B may be forced downwardly, not only for the purpose of covering the slot, but also for cutting the exuded ribbon of toothpaste.

The three elements which go to make up this invention provide, not only a cap for a collapsible container, but also provide a dispensing medium for the contents of the collapsible container. The collar 3 of the dispensing cap has been purposely provided with an interior thread which will fit the average threaded neck of a typical collapsible tube, so that when all of the toothpaste in a tube is removed from its interior, the dispensing cap may be saved and used on a collapsible tube which is full. Thus the dispensing cap may be used a great many times to fulfill the functions hereinbefore mentioned.

Manifestly, the construction and the arrangement shown is capable of modification, but the right tosuch changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention and which are within the scope of the subjoined claims is reserved.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new and useful and upon which I desire to secure Letters Patent is:

1. In a cap for use with a collapsible tube of conventional design, a cylindrical body member having an internally threaded annular collar and a cylindrical wall extending upwardly from said collar, said Wall having a slot therethrough, a casing in telescopic connection with the cylindrical Wall and slidably movable relative thereto, means for limiting the movement of the casing with respect to said cylindrical wall, and means secured to the collar and frictionally engageable to the casing for locking the casing against movement relative to said cylindrical wall.

2. In a cap for use with a collapsible tube of conventional design, a cylindrical body member having an internally threaded annular collar and a cylindrical wall extending upwardly from said collar, said wall having a slot therethrough, an annular flange extending from the top of said wall, a casing in telescopic connection with the cylindrical wall and slidably movable relative thereto, an annular flange inwardly extending from the bottom of the casing, said flange adapted for contacting the first-mentioned flange to limit the upward movement of the casing, and means secured to the collar and frictionally engageable to the casing for locking the casing against movement relative to said cylindrical wall.

3. In a cap for use with a collapsible tube of conventional design, a cylindrical body member having an internally threaded annular collar and a cylindrical wall extending upwardly from said collar, said wall having a slot therethrough, an annular flange extending from the top of said wall, a casing in telescopic connection with the cylindrical wall and slidably movable relative thereto, an annular flange inwardly extending from the bottom of the casing, saidflange adapted for contacting the first-mentioned flange to limit the upward movement of the casing, and a yoke-shaped member pivotally secured tothe collar, the shape of said yoke being governed entirely by the exterior contour of the casing, said yoke, when placed upon the top of said casing, being adapted to secure the casing against movement in any direction.

4. A dispensing cap for collapsible tubes characterized by the following elements and functions: (1) a cylindrical body member composed of an internally threaded collar, a cylindrical wall extending upwardly from the collar and forming an annular shoulder at the juncture of said Wall and said collar, a discharge aperture formed within said cylindrical wall, an exterior annular flange extending from said wall, (2) a cylindrical casing having a groove formed within its top, an interior annular flange extending inwardly from said casing, said casing adapted for being permanently retained in telescopic, slidable engagement with said cylindrical wall, said interior annular flange of said casing adapted for contacting said cylindrical wall, said casing being limited in its upward movement by the annular flange secured to said cylindrical wall, and (3) means secured to said collar adapted for being frictionally positioned within the groove formed in the top of said casing to thereby retain said casing on the shoulder formed by the juncture of said collar and said cylindrical wall and restrain said casing from movement in any direction.

5. A dispensing cap for collapsible tubes characterized by the following elements and functions: (1) a cylindrical body member composed of an internally threaded collar, a cylindrical wall extending upwardly from the collar and forming an annular shoulder at the juncture of said wall and said collar, a discharge aperture formed within said cylindrical wall, an exterior annular flange extending from said wall, (2) a cylindrical casing having a groove formed within its top, an interior annular flange extending inwardly from said casing, said casing adapted for being permanently retained in telescopic, slidable engagement with said cylindrical wall, said interior annular flange of said casing adapted for contacting said cylindrical wall, said casing being limited in its upward movement by the annular flange secured to said cylindrical wall, and (3) a bail possessing the contours of a yoke swingably engageable to said collar, said bail adapted for being frictionally positioned within the groove formed within the top of said casing to thereby prevent any movement of said casing with respect to said cylindrical body member.

JOSEPH FISHER. 

